Killing of Maoists saw 150% jump in 2016, govt tells Parliament

The number of Left Wing Extremists killed in 2016 as compared to 2015 has increased by 150% -- from 89 in 2015 to 222 in 2016.

Maoist rebels train in a forest area at Dumariya block in Gaya district of Bihar.(AP/ Representational Photo)

A huge jump of 150% has been witnessed in the number of Maoists killed in 2016 in comparison to the previous year, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

“The number of Left Wing Extremists killed in 2016 as compared to 2015 has increased by 150% -- from 89 in 2015 to 222 in 2016. This number is highest in the last six years,” minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir said in reply to a written question.

Ahir said inclusion or exclusion of districts under the security related expenditure scheme was a dynamic process which was periodically reviewed based on the overall security situation.

“There is no proposal under consideration to exclude 20 districts from the list of 106 LWE affected districts,” he said.

The minister said the government has approved the road connectivity project for LWE affected areas that includes construction/ upgradation of 5,411.81 km roads and 126 bridges/cross drainage in 44 districts of nine LWE affected states at an estimated cost of Rs 11,724.53 crore.